Sensors for Ultrasonic NDT in Harsh Environments


Book Description

In this Special Issue of Sensors, seven peer-reviewed manuscripts appear on the topic of ultrasonic transducer design and operation in harsh environments: elevated temperature, high gamma and neutron radiation fields, or the presence of aggressive chemicals. Motivations for these research and development projects are strongly focused on nuclear power plant inspections (particularly liquid-sodium cooled reactors), and nondestructive testing of high-temperature piping installations. It is anticipated that extensive use of permanently mounted robust transducers for in-service monitoring of petrochemical plants and power generations stations; quality control in manufacturing plants; and primary and secondary process monitoring in the fabrication of engineering materials will soon be made.




Sensors for Ultrasonic NDT in Harsh Environments


Book Description

In this Special Issue of Sensors, seven peer-reviewed manuscripts appear on the topic of ultrasonic transducer design and operation in harsh environments: elevated temperature, high gamma and neutron radiation fields, or the presence of aggressive chemicals. Motivations for these research and development projects are strongly focused on nuclear power plant inspections (particularly liquid-sodium cooled reactors), and nondestructive testing of high-temperature piping installations. It is anticipated that extensive use of permanently mounted robust transducers for in-service monitoring of petrochemical plants and power generations stations; quality control in manufacturing plants; and primary and secondary process monitoring in the fabrication of engineering materials will soon be made.




Advances in Sensors and Sensing for Technical Condition Assessment and NDT


Book Description

The adequate assessment of key apparatus conditions is a hot topic in all branches of industry. Various online and offline diagnostic methods are widely applied to provide early detections of any abnormality in exploitation. Furthermore, different sensors may also be applied to capture selected physical quantities that may be used to indicate the type of potential fault. The essential steps of the signal analysis regarding the technical condition assessment process may be listed as: signal measurement (using relevant sensors), processing, modelling, and classification. In the Special Issue entitled "Advances in Sensors and Sensing for Technical Condition Assessment and NDT", we present the latest research in various areas of technology.




Non-Destructive Material Characterization Methods


Book Description

Non-Destructive Material Characterization Methods provides readers with a trove of theoretical and practical insight into how to implement different non-destructive testing methods for effective material characterization. The book starts with an introduction to the field before moving right into a discussion of a wide range of techniques that can be immediately implemented. Various imaging and microscopy techniques are first covered, with step-by-step insights on characterization using a polarized microscope, an atomic force microscope, computed tomography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, infrared tomography, and more. Each chapter includes case studies, applications, and recent developments. From there, elemental assay and mapping techniques are discussed, including Raman spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, neutron activation analysis, and various others. The book concludes with sections covering displacement measurement techniques, large-scale facility techniques, and methods involving multiscale analysis and advanced analysis. - Provides an overview of a wide-range of NDT material characterization methods, strengths and weaknesses of these methods, when to apply them, and more - Includes eddy current sensing and imaging, ultrasonic sensing and imaging, RF and THz imaging, internet and cloud-based methods, among many others - Presents case studies, applications and other insights on putting these methods into practice




Ultrasonic Nondestructive Testing of Materials


Book Description

This book features a comprehensive discussion of the mathematical foundations of ultrasonic nondestructive testing of materials. The authors include a brief description of the theory of acoustic and electromagnetic fields to underline the similarities and differences with respect to elastodynamics. They also cover vector, elastic plane, and Rayleigh surface waves as well as ultrasonic beams, inverse scattering, and ultrasonic nondestructive imaging. A coordinate-free notation system is used that is easier to understand and navigate than standard index notation.




Ultrasonic and Advanced Methods for Nondestructive Testing and Material Characterization


Book Description

Ultrasonic methods have been very popular in nondestructive testing and characterization of materials. This book deals with both industrial ultrasound and medical ultrasound. The advantages of ultrasound include flexibility, low cost, in-line operation, and providing data in both signal and image formats for further analysis. The book devotes 11 chapters to ultrasonic methods. However, ultrasonic methods can be much less effective with some applications. So the book also has 14 chapters catering to other or advanced methods for nondestructive testing or material characterization. Topics like structural health monitoring, Terahertz methods, X-ray and thermography methods are presented. Besides different sensors for nondestructive testing, the book places much emphasis on signal/image processing and pattern recognition of the signals acquired.




Ultrasonics


Book Description

Updated, revised, and restructured to reflect the latest advances in science and applications, the fourth edition of this best-selling industry and research reference covers the fundamental physical acoustics of ultrasonics and transducers, with a focus on piezoelectric and magnetostrictive modalities. It then discusses the full breadth of ultrasonics applications involving low power (sensing) and high power (processing) for research, industrial, and medical use. This book includes new content covering computer modeling used for acoustic and elastic wave phenomena, including scattering, mode conversion, transmission through layered media, Rayleigh and Lamb waves and flexural plates, modern horn design tools, Langevin transducers, and material characterization. There is more attention on process monitoring and advanced nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDT/NDE), including phased array ultrasound (PAUT), long-range inspection, using guided ultrasonic waves (GUW), internally rotary inspection systems (IRIS), time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD), and acoustic emission (AE). These methods are discussed and applied to both metals and nonmetals using illustrations in various industries, including now additionally for food and beverage products. The topics of defect sizing, capabilities, and limitations, including the probability of detection (POD), are introduced. Three chapters provide a new treatment of high-power ultrasonics, for both fluids and solids, and again, with examples of industrial engineering, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and other process applications. Expanded coverage is given to medical and biological applications, covering diagnostics, therapy, and, at the highest powers, surgery. Key Features Provides an overview of fundamental analysis and transducer technologies needed to design and develop both measurement and processing systems Considers applications in material characterization and metrology Covers ultrasonic nondestructive testing and evaluation and high-power ultrasonics, which involves interactions that change the state of material Highlights medical and biomedical applications of ultrasound, focusing on the physical acoustics and the technology employed for diagnosis, therapy, surgery, and research This book is intended for both the undergraduate and graduate scientists and engineers, as well as the working professional, who seeks to understand the fundamentals together with a holistic treatment of the field of ultrasonics and its diversity of applications.




An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


Book Description

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is one of the largest examples of U.S. public-private partnerships. Founded in 1982, SBIR was designed to encourage small business to develop new processes and products and to provide quality research in support of the many missions of the U.S. government, including health, energy, the environment, and national defense. In response to a request from the U.S. Congress, the National Research Council assessed SBIR as administered by the five federal agencies that together make up 96 percent of program expenditures. This book, one of six in the series, reports on the SBIR program at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and finds that the program is making significant progress in achieving the Congressional goals for the program. Keeping in mind NASA's unique mission and the recent significant changes to the program, the committee found the SBIR program to be sound in concept and effective in practice at NASA.. The book recommends programmatic changes that should make the SBIR program even more effective in achieving its legislative goals.




Issues in Analysis, Measurement, Monitoring, Imaging, and Remote Sensing Technology: 2013 Edition


Book Description

Issues in Analysis, Measurement, Monitoring, Imaging, and Remote Sensing Technology: 2013 Edition is a ScholarlyEditions™ book that delivers timely, authoritative, and comprehensive information about Analysis and Measurement. The editors have built Issues in Analysis, Measurement, Monitoring, Imaging, and Remote Sensing Technology: 2013 Edition on the vast information databases of ScholarlyNews.™ You can expect the information about Analysis and Measurement in this book to be deeper than what you can access anywhere else, as well as consistently reliable, authoritative, informed, and relevant. The content of Issues in Analysis, Measurement, Monitoring, Imaging, and Remote Sensing Technology: 2013 Edition has been produced by the world’s leading scientists, engineers, analysts, research institutions, and companies. All of the content is from peer-reviewed sources, and all of it is written, assembled, and edited by the editors at ScholarlyEditions™ and available exclusively from us. You now have a source you can cite with authority, confidence, and credibility. More information is available at http://www.ScholarlyEditions.com/.




Principles and Applications of RELAX: A Robust and Universal Estimator


Book Description

The multiple signal demixing and parameter estimation problems that result from the impacts of background noise and interference are issues that are frequently encountered in the fields of radar, sonar, communications, and navigation. Research in the signal processing and control fields has always focused on improving the estimation performance of parameter estimation methods at low SNR and maintaining the robustness of estimations in the presence of model errors. This book presents a universal and robust relaxation estimation method (RELAX), and introduces its basic principles and applications in the fields of classical line spectrum estimation, time of delay estimation, DOA estimation, and radar target imaging. This information is explained comprehensively and in great detail, and uses metaphors pertaining to romantic relationships to visualize the basic problems of parameter estimation, the basic principles of the five types of classical parameter estimation methods, and the relationships between these principles. The book serves as a reference for scientists and technologists in the fields of signal processing and control, while also providing relevant information for graduate students in the related fields.